Trolley-contactor



A. FROHNE.

TROLLEY GONTACTOR.

APPLlCATioN FILED 1v1/w31. 1921.

1,390, 120, Patentedsept. 6,1921.

"iidfiI ALBIN FROHNE, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A

SSIGNOR TO AMERICAN 'FLYER MAIIUFA y TUBING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed `May 31,

To @ZZ w/wm t may concern: f Be it known that I, ALBIN F noHNn, a citizen of Germany, having declared my inten-E tion of ,becoming a citizen of the Unitedv States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Coolr and Stateof Illinois,.have` invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Contactors, of which the following is a specification.

he present invention has to do with certain improvements introlley contactors for toy electric railroads. One of the objects of the vinvention is to provide a contactor Awhich can be very cheaply manufactured lfrom a small number of parts. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a contacter of such construction that the current will be delivered away from the' contactor without having to pass through the bearings of the roller or wheel, thus reducing the electrical resistance and Veliminating the burning of these bearingsand their overheating. a y .f l

Another object of the invention is `to provide a contacter of such form that it will be maintained under spring pressure against the trolley or third' rail, but also of Vsuch form that the amount ofmovement ofthe roller will be limited, so that when the contaeter travels olf of the ythird rail it will not swingthrough an excessive arc. l Other objects and uses ofthe invention will appear from-a detailed description of the same, whichl consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a double contactor embodying the features of the present invention, and shows by dotted lines a car on which the same may be mounted. It also shows a double contacter as traveling on the third rail;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 shows a bottom to Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have shown the features of the invention as applied to a double contacter, that is, oneY having two contacting view corresponding Specification of Letters Patent.

TROLLEY-Courncron.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921. 192i. .serial no. 473,743.

rollers, buty Iwish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to either a single or double typeof construction.`

rIhe contacter illustrated includes a base plate 5 of insulating material `adapted to be attached to thecar .6. Each contacter includes a U-shaped member 7 having a pair 0f side arms 8 and 9 joined together in their central portionsV by a cross barlO. Each of said arms is extended beyond the cross bar as a pair of shoes 11 and 12.

Each of the members 7 is pivotally supported as by means ofa pair of ears"13 and ltbetween the arms 8 and 9, said ears depending downwardly from a plate 15-which is secured to the insulatingblock 5. The arms are pivoted to the ears by means of a crosspinl asclearly shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the shoes 11 and 12 has its upper surface cut at an angle as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the rocking movement ofthe `member 7 islimited.

Between the outer ends of the arms 8 andV 9 there is journaled a contactingroller 18 which is adapted to travel on" the third rail or trolley 19.

A strip of spring with one or morefingers 23 which rest uponl the rollerV 18 and make electrical contact therewith at all times, and also serve to eX- ert a certain amount of spring pressure on said roller. An additional amount of spring pressure may be provided by means of a spring lug 24, which bears against the cross bar 10, tending to force the same downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the arms 8 and 9, the cross bar 10, and shoes 11 and 12 may be stamped out from a single piece of sheet metal, and that the strip 20 including the lingers 23 and 24 may also be stamped out from another piece of sheet metal. This latter stamping may also serve to provide a terminal connector 25 by means of which the current may be removed from the contactor.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment @f the features of like .maaien of goed electricalconductivity 20 is rigidly secured byf a rivet 21 or hy a material, a plate lying against m present invention, still I do not limit myse f to the same except as I may do so in the claims. Y g I claim: Y Y

1. vA' trolley lcontactor for the purpose specified comprising a block of insulating aforesaid, a roller pivotally mounted beV tween the'ends ofthe arms of the ybifurcated member, and a strip of resilient, electrically conducting material rigidly secured Vto the plateV aforesaid and' having a finger spring pressed against the vtop surface of said roller and having another finger spring pressed against the cross connecting bar aforesaid andtending to swing the bi1 furcated member to carry its shoes against the block of insulating material, substantia'lly as described.

2.` A trolley contacterA for the purpose specified comprising ablock of insulating material, a pair of outwardly extending separated lugs Y in conjunction with said block, a bifurcated member having a pair of longitudinally extending separated arms, a cross connecting bar, and a pair of rearwardlyl extending shoes adapted to engage the block, of insulating. material to thereby limit the swinging movement of such' bifur cated member, a pivotal connection between the bifurcations and the lugs aforesaid, a roller pivotally mounted between the ends of the arms of the bifurcated member, and a strip of resilient, electrically conducting material rigidly'secured to the plate aforef said. and having finger spring Vpressed againstthe top surfaceof suchroller and said blockv and Yhaving a pair of outwardly extendingV a cross connecting bar, and a.

having another linger spring pressed against the cross connecting bar aforesaid and tending to swing the bifurcated member to carry its shoes against the block of insulat ing material, substantially as described.

` 3. A trolley contactor for the purpose specified comprising a suitable support, a

pair of outwardly extending separated lugs in conjunction therewith, a bifurcated member having a pair of longitudinallyl extending separated arms, a cross connecting bar, and a longitudinally extending shoe adapted to engage said support to thereby limit the swinging movementfof said bifurcated member, av pivotal connection between the bifur! cations and the lugs aforesaid, a roller piv-V otally mounted between the ends of the arms ofthe bifurcated member, and a strip of resilient, electrically conducting material rigidlyV secured to said support' and having a finger spring pressed against the topsurface ofsaid roller and having another linger spring'pressed against the cross connecting bar aforesaid and tending to swing the bi furcated member to carryits shoe; againsty said support, 'substantially as described.

4. A trolley contactor for the "purpose specified comprising'fa suitable support, .a

pair of outwardly extending separated lugs in conjunction therewith, a bifurcated member having ajpair of longitudinally'extend ing separatedarms, across'connectin'g bar, and a longitudinally'extending shoe adapted to engagefsaid support to thereby"` limit the swinging movement lof said bifurcated member, a pivotal connection between the bifurcations and the lugs aforesaid, a roller pivot- .ally mounted'-betweenv the ends of the arms ofthe bifurcated member, and a strip of resilient, electrically conducting mater'ial rigidly vsecured to said support and having a finger spring pressed against the topsurface of said roller, and tending to swing the bifurcated member to Vcarry its shoe against said support, substantially` as described.

' l' ALBIN FROHNE; 

